Convertible bed



April 3, 1962 E. A. KAMP 3,027,570.

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed April 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States Patent sews Patented Apr. 3, 1962 Flee 3,0275% QQNVERTKBLE BED Ewald A. Karnp, Chicago, ilk, assignor to The Englander Company, Inc., Chicago, ll'L, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 731,517 Claims. (QB. 5-47) This invention relates to furniture, and more specifically to a bed which may be converted into a couch.

It has been recognized by the hotel industry that hotel rooms may be advantageously used both as sleeping rooms and as sitting rooms. Thus, furniture in hotel rooms should be suitable for use as either bedrooms or living rooms. Dual purpose furniture is also frequently desirable in homes.

Though a couch may be used for a bed and vice versa, a couch seat is normally too narrow for comfortable use as a bed and a bed is too wide to serve as a comfortable couch seat. A wide back, or bolster, positioned on a bed may be used to take up some of the width of the bed and provide a couch of an appropriate width. However, couches normally should have an incline downward toward the back of the couch so that the person properly sits against the back of the couch. The aspect of a couch just mentioned is not provided in a bed with a bolster. Furthermore, the removal of the bolster at an appropriate time and storage thereof provides a problem.

Means have heretofore been used to move a bed back and forth under a bolster to extend and retract the bed as desired, thereby eliminating the problem of storing the bolster. However, in conventional structures people sitting on the bed and leaning against the bolster tend to push the bed away from the bolster, which creates a sliding sensation and detracts from proper use as a couch. Locks have been installed to prevent the structure from sliding out from under the bolster, but such locks gen erally include arrangements in which pins must be pulled or levers must be pushed. Locks of the type just mentioned are undesirable inasmuch as users may accidentally actuate the release of the looks with unfavorable results. In addition, persons must be taught how to operate the locks and catches.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a convertible bed in which a bed portion thereof may be retracted under a bolster portion and automatically locked thereunder in an improved manner which assures retention of the bed portion in its retracted position and provides for release of the bed portion by a simple pulling force applied thereto.

Another object is to provide a convertible bed structure of the above character in which a retractable bed portion is, upon being moved into its retracted position, automatically locked in retracted position by an improved structure that produces a bed portion retaining action from the reaction of gravity on the bed portion in a manner which intensifies the retaining action in response to the added weight of persons seated on the retracted bed portion.

Another object of the herein disclosed invention is to provide a convertible bed structure which contains a frame providing for tilting the mattress structure in a retracted position and automatically locking the mattress in the retracted position by the reaction of the force of gravity on the mattress.

Other objects and improvements will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible bed embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the bed shown in FIG. 1 in a retracted position;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the convertible bed shown in FIG. 1, but showing the mattress removed from under the bolster and in an extended position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the bed shown in FIG. 1 in a fully extended position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the convertible bed frame and bolster back forming a part of the structure, showing the frame in a fully extended position;

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 5, certain parts being omitted to lend clarity to the showing;

PEG. 7 is a side elevation of the convertible bed shown in FIG. 1 with the bolster in cross section and the mattress assembly in phantom view in fully extended position.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of the support frame and mattress frame of the structure showing the mattress f ame in an extended position;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation of the frame shown in FIG. 9 with the mattress frame in a bed position; and

I may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, consists of a bolster cushion 2S and a bolster back or frame 34..

As may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame 26 consists of a support frame, generally indicated by numeral 32, and a mattress frame, generally indicated by numeral 34. The support frame 32 includes a pair of substantially parallel channel roller guide bars, generally indicated by numeral 36 and disposed as shown, in horizontal positions. The bars 36 have an angle iron stop bar 58 welded to their forward ends. At the opposite ends of the guide bars 36, an angle iron cross bar 40 is welded thereto to provide a substantially rectangular frame. A pair of angle iron bolster supports 42. is riveted to the roller guide bars 36 proximate the cross bar 40, and a pair of bolster brackets 44 is welded to upper ends of the bolster supports 4-2 to provide a support for the bolster 22, which has the bolster back 3d fastened to the bolster brackets 44 by means of a plurality of nuts and bolts 46.

Looking now to FIGS. 6 and 8, it may be seen that a roller bar roller 48 is rotatably mounted on each of the guide bars 36 by means of an axle 50 which is riveted to each of the guide bars 36. Each of the guide bars 36 is made of a piece of channel iron including an upper flange 52 and a lower flange 54- joined by a web 56. A track 58 is welded intermediate the flanges 54 and 52 substantially parallel to said flanges. The track 58 cooperates with the upper flange 52 to define a support channel 60 disposed, as shown, in a horizontal position. A second piece of track 64 spaced longitudinally from track 58 is welded to the web 56. A short piece of track 62 is welded to the web 56 and inclined downward from the track 58, and a short piece of track 66 is welded to the end of track 64 at substantially the same angle as the track 62. The two short tracks 62 and 66 cooperate to define a connecting channel 68. The track 64 cooperates with flange 54 to define a tilt channel 74 disposed, as shown, in a horizontal position. The support channel 60 and tilt channel 70 are located on different levels and are connected by the connecting channel 63.

A short piece of track is welded to the opposite end of track 64 and inclined upward from the track 64 to provide an automatic locking means or look rise 72 as will be described hereinafter. At the end of track 53 proximate the end of roller guide bar 36, the track 58 contains two crimps 7 4 which provide a positioning means.

The mattress frame 34, as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a pair of substantially parallel roller bars 76, which have a stop roller bar '78 riveted to one end, though any other suitable means of fixing the stop roller bar to the roller bars is acceptable. A support bar 8% made of an angle iron is welded to they opposite ends of. the roller bars 7 6. A pair of braces 82 is fixed to the support bar 80 and to stop roller bar '78 to increase therigidity of the mattress frame 34. A pair of support rollers 84 is rotatably mounted on the support bar 8t by a pair of generally U-shaped. roller brackets 86, which are welded to the support bar 3%. A pair of stop rollers 83 is rotatably mounted on the stop roller bar 78 by a pair of angle brackets 90, and said stop rollers, are in rotatable engagement with the adjacent webs 56 of channel roller guide, bars 36 and are engageable in limit position with the stop bar 38. Said stop rollers 88 provide a means for aligning the mattress frame 34 with the support frame 32 as the frame 34 moves relative to the support frame 32.

Turning now to FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, it may be seen that a lock roller 92 is rotatably mounted on the end of each roller bar 76 proximate the stop roller bar 7 8. Each roller 92 is rotatably mounted on a roller bracket 94 which is riveted to the roller bar 76. A pivot roller 96 is rotatably mounted on a pivot roller bracket 98, which is fixed to each roller bar 76 by means of rivets, through any other convenient means for attaching the brackets 98 to the roller bars is acceptable. Each roller 96 is spaced from roller 92 a distance slightly less than the length of the support channel 60 described hereinabove. The above mentioned rollers 92 and 96 are rotatable within the support channel 60; and the look roller 9-2 is also rotatable within the connecting channel 68 and the tilt channel 70, and engageable with the lock rise 72.

Looking now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the convertible bed 20 is shown in a retracted position wherein the bed serves as a couch. The couch may be converted into a bed by manually lifting the forward portion of the mattress frame 34 so that the mattress frame pivots about the pivot rollers 96, as may be seen in FIG. 11. As the mattress frame is lifted at its forward edge, or that edge proximate to the support bar 80, the support rollers 84 are raised and the lock rollers 92 are lowered into engagement with their respective flanges 54, thus the mattress frame may be moved forward or outward from the support frame 32. The mattress frame is easily moved along the support frame since pivot rollers 96 roll along their respective tracks 58 in support channels 6t) and the lock rollers 92 roll on the underside of their respective tracks 64 within tilt channels 7 0, which provide tilting means. The mattress frame is extended to a point where the locking rollers 92 pass through the connecting channels 68 and into the support channels 6%, and the pivot rollers 96 are rolled between the crimps 74, thereby providing a retaining means for the mattress frame as shown in FIG. 10. As may be seen in FlG. 3 and in FIG. 7, in phantom View, the bed is ready for occupancy with the mattress 24 proximate the bolster 20.

In order to facilitate cleaning beneath the mattress frame or to make up the bed, the mattress frame may be further extended from the support frame, thereby providing a space between the mattress assembly 24 and the bolster 22, so that a person may get between the bolster and the mattress. The extension is accomplished by pulling forward on the mattress frame so that the retaining means is disengaged. The support rollers 84 provide support at the forward edge of the mattress frame, and the locking rollers 92 roll within support channels 60 supporting the other end of the mattress frame. The extension of the mattress frame from the support frame is limited by the stop rollers 88 engaging the stop bar 38, thereby providing a mattress frame stop means.

The mattress frame may be disassembled from the support frame when the mattress frame is in an extended position. The forward end of the mattress frame is pivoted upward about the lock rollers 92 so that the stop rollers 88 are raised above the stop bar 38. The rollers 92 may be then withdrawn from the support channel 6%. Thus, the entire mattress frame may be replaced with ease should any repairs be necessary on the mattress frame.

As the mattress frame 34 is extended from the support frame 32, the roller bars 76 are aligned parallel to the channel roller guide bars 36 by means of the coaction of the rollers 88 against the webs 5d of the channel roller guide bars and the rollers 48 against the roller bars, which provides a frame aligning means. The frame aligning means prevents a lateral displacement of the frames relative to each other, or a yawling or the mattress frame relative to the support frame, thereby preventing any binding of the rollers within the channels and eliminating any possible damage to the rollers and undue wear on the channels and the rollers.

After the mattress frame 34 has been extended to its fully extended position as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 9, and the bed has been made up. or the required cleaning has been done, the mattress frame and mattress 24 are returned to the bed position or intermediate position by applying an inward force to the mattress so that the lock roller 92 rolls within the support channels 6t)- until the pivot rollers 96 engage the respective retaining means. Thus, the bed is ready for occupancy and the support frame is hidden from view.

In order to convert the bed to a couch, a slight upward force is applied to the forward end of the mattress frame along with an inwardly directed force so that the retaining means is disengaged and the lock rollers 92 are pivoted into the connecting channels 68. The support rollers 84 are raised from the supporting surface and the mattress frame pivots about the pivot rollers 96 as the lock rollers roll into tilt channels 70 thereby tilting the mattress frame relative to the support frame. The mattress frame is pivoted inward until the lock rollers 92 engage the respective lock rises 72 so that the forward edge of the mattress frame goes down until the support rollers engage the stop bar 38, thereby providing a retracting stop means. The rollers 84 rest in the angle of the stop bar thereby preventing further lowering of the forward edge of the mattress frame, thus cooperating with the lock rises and lock rollers 92 to provide a cooperating and automatic lock means to lock the mattress frame in a tilted position relative to the support frame. By the above described means, an accidental displacement of the mattress frame from the support frame is prevented.

While the instant invention has been shown and described in specific terms, it is obvious that one skilled in the art may make variations and changes in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A convertible bed having a frame, said frame having a support frame including a pair of channel roller guide bars, each of said channel roller guide bars having a support channel, a tilt channel, a connecting channel providing a continuous channel from the support channel to the tilt channel, and a lock rise at the open end of the tilt channel, a stop bar fixed to one end of each of said channel roller guide bars, thereby connecting said guide bars, a cross bar fixed to the opposite ends of said channel roller guidebars, and a bolster support fixed to.

each of said channel roller guide bars; and a mattress frame removably mounted on the support frame, said mattress frame having a pair of roller bars having substantially the same length as the channel roller guide bars, a support bar fixed to one end of said roller guide bars, thereby connecting said roller bars, a stop roller bar fixed to the opposite ends of the roller bars, thereby connecting the other end of said roller bars, a pair of support rollers rotatably mounted on the support bar engageable with the stop bar of the support frame, a pair of stop rollers rotatably mounted on the stop roller bar engageable with the stop bar, thereby limiting the horizontal movement of the mattress frame relative to the support frame in one direction, a lock roller rotatably mounted on each of the roller bars proximate the stop roller bar, said lock rollers rotatably mounted within the channel roller guide bar and rotatably engageable with the support channel and lock rise, a pivot roller mounted on each of the roller bars rotatably engageable with the support channel, whereby said pivot rollers engage the support channels when the locking rollers are in engagement with the tilt channels; and a mattress assembly supported on the mattress frame, whereby the support rollers support one edge of the mattress frame and the pivot rollers are within their respective support channels when the mattress frame is in an extended position, and the mattress frame is manually positioned to a tilting position by rolling the locking rollers through the tilt channel and in engagement with the lock rise, and the support rollers limit the retraction of the mattress frame to the tilting position by engagement with the stop bar.

2. A convertible bed having a frame including a support frame, and a mattress frame supported by said support frame, said support frame having a pair of channel roller guide bars substantially parallel to each other, a cross bar fixed to one end of said channel roller guide bars and a stop bar fixed to the opposite end of said channel roller guide bars, a bolster support fixed to each of the channel roller guide bars and a roller bar roller rotatably mounted on the upper surface of each of the roller guide bars, each of said channel roller guide bars having a support channel, a tilt channel below said support channel and a connecting channel providing a continuous channel from a support channel to the tilt channel, a lock rise associated with the tilt channel, and a positioning crimp in each of said support channels; said mattress frame including a pair of roller bars having a length substantially equal to the channel roller guide bars, said roller bars rotatably engaging the roller bar rollers and substantially parallel to each other and the channel roller guide bars, a support bar fixed to the roller bars at one end of each roller bar and a stop roller bar fixed to the opposite ends of the roller bars and being substantially parallel to the support bar, a support roller rotatably mounted on the support bar proximate the roller bars, a pair of stop rollers rotatably mounted on the stop roller bar and rotatably engaging the channel roller guide bars, thereby preventing lateral movement of said mattress frame relative to the support frame, said stop rollers engageable with the stop bar defining the extent of horizontal movement of the mattress frame relative to the support frame in one direction, a locking roller rotatably mounted on each of said roller bars and rotatably engageable with the support channel, tilt channel, connecting channel and lock rise, said locking rollers fixed to the end of the roller bars proximate the stop roller bar, a pivot roller rotatably mounted on each roller bar spaced from the locking roller a distance less than the length of the support channel; a bolster fixed to an upper portion of the bolster supports and a mattress assembly mounted on the mattress frame a portion of which is positionable below the bolster thereby providing a couch, and extendable from under the bolster thereby providing a bed; whereby said mattress frame is extendable from the support frame wherein the support rollers support one end of the mattress frame, the locking rollers and the support channel support the other edges of the mattress frame and the stop rollers engage the stop bar limiting the extension of the mattress frame, said mattress frame is manually retractable to a position wherein the pivot rollers engage the positioning crimps in the support channel and said frame is substantially horizontal and extending entirely from under the bolster thereby providing a bed, and further manual retraction of the mattress frame places the locking rollers in engagement with their respective tilting channels tilting the mattress frame about the tilt rollers and still further retraction of the mattress frame places the locking rollers in engagement with the automatic locking means and the support rollers in engagement with the stop bar thereby releasably locking the mattress frame in a tilted position from the horizontal to provide a couch.

3. A lounge convertible to a bed and comprising, in combination, a support frame including a pair of channel roller guide bars; a roller channel in each of said guide bars and including a forward and generally horizontal support channel portion, a tilt channel portion disposed below and rearwardly of said support channel portion, a connecting channel portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said support channel portion to the forward end of said tilt channel portion, and a lock rise channel portion extending upwardly from the rear end of said tilt channel portion; a stop bar connecting the forward ends of said channel roller guide bars, a cross bar connecting the rear ends of said channel roller guide bars, back rest support means extending upwardly from the rear ends of said channel roller guide bars, a back rest on said back rest support means, a mattress frame movably mounted on said support frame and including a pair of end roller bars parallel to said channel roller guide bars, a support bar connecting the forward ends of said end roller bars, a stop roller bar connecting opposite ends of said end roller bars, a pair of downwardly extending support rollers journaled on said support bar to support the forward side of said mattress frame upon forward extension thereof, a pair of rollers journaled on said stop roller bar in rolling engagement with said respective channel roller guide bars and in interfering relation to said stop bar to coact with the latter to limit forward extension movement of said mattress frame, a pair of lock rollers journaled on said respective roller bars adjacent the rear ends thereof and in rolling engagement with said respective roller channels, a pair of pivot rollers journaled on said respective roller bars in rolling engagement with said respective channels, both said pivot rollers being located forwardly of said lock rollers and rearwardly of the center of gravity of said mattress frame, a matter assembly supported on said mattress frame for movement therewith from a retracted seating position in which a portion of the mattress assembly underlies said back rest in an extended sleeping position and for further movement beyond said sleeping position to an extended cleaning position, and said support frame and said channels thereon being dimensioned in relation to said mattress frame and said rollers thereon so that said mattress frame upon being shifted to said extended cleaning position thereon is supported by said support rollers thereof and by said locking rollers in the support channel portion of said respective channels and whereby said mattress frame upon being shifted to the extended sleeping position thereof locates said pivot rollers and said lock rollers in said support channel portion of said channels and whereby retraction of said mattress frame into its seating position effects movement of said locking rollers into said lock rise portions at the end of said respective channels.

4. A lounge convertible to a bed and comprising, in combination, a support frame having a pair of channel roller guide bars substantially parallel to each other, a

cross bar connecting the rear ends of said channel roller guide bars, a stop bar connecting the opposite ends of said channel rollers guide bars, a roller bar roller rotatably mounted on the upper side of each of said channel roller guide bars; a roller support channel secured to each of said channel roller guide bars and including a support channel portion, a tilt channel portion located below said support channel portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, a connecting channel portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from the support channel portion to connect with the tilt channel portion, and a lock rise portion formed in the rear end of the tilt channel portion; a positioning crimp formed in each of said support channel portions, a mattress frame supported on said support frame for lateral movement between an extended sleeping position and a retracted seating position, said mattress frame including a pair of roller bars having a length substantially equal to the channel roller guide bars, s d roller bars engaging said roller bar rollers in substantially par allel relation to, said channel roller guide bars, a support bar connecting the forward ends of said roller bars, a stop roller bar connecting the rear ends of said roller bars, support rollers journaled on said support bar in depending relation thereto, a pair of stop rollers journaled on said stop roller bar in rolling engagement with said respective channel roller guide bars and in interf ring relation to said stop bar to limit forward movement of said mattress frame, a locking roller journaled on each of said roller bars proximate to the rear end thereof and coasting with the adacent roller support channel, a pivot roller journaled on each roller bar in coasting relation to the adjacent channel and having a spacing from the adjacent locking roller which is less than one-half the length of the roller bars, back rest support means extendin upwardly from the rear ends of said channel roller guide bars, a back rest fixed to said back rest support means, a mattress assembly supported on said mattress frame for movement therewith between said extended sleeping position and said retracted seating position in which one longitudinal edge of the mattress assembly extends under said back rest, said mattress frame being extendable to an extended position in which the forward side thereof is supported by said support rollers and the rearward side thereof is supported by said locking rollers in said support channel portions, said mattress frame being manually retractable from said extended position to a normal sleeping position in which said pivot rollers are supported in said support channel portions in engagement with said positioning crimps, and said mattress frame having a seating position in which said pivot rollers are supported on said respective roller support channels and said locking rollers move upwardly into engagement with said lock rise portions of said tilt channels to releasably hold said mattress frame against forward movement from the retracted position thereof.

5, A lounge convertible to a bed and comprising, in combination, a support frame having a pair of channel roller guide bars substantially parallel to each other, a cross bar connecting the rear ends of said channel roller guide bars, a stop bar connecting the forward ends of said channel roller guide bars; a roller support channel secured to each of said channel roller guide bars and including a horizontal support channel portion, a horizontal tilt channel portion located a substantial distance below the level of said support channel portion and extending rearwardly from said support channel portion, a rearwardly and downwardly inclined connecting channel portion connecting the rear end of said support channel portion and the forward end of said tilt channel portion, and a lock. rise portion on the rear end of the tilt channel portion; a mattress frame supported on said support frame for lateral movement between a retracted seating position and an extended sleeping position, said mattress frame including a pair of roller bars parallel to the channel roller guide bars, a support bar connecting the forward ends of said roller bars, a stop roller bar connecting the rear ends of said rollers bars, a locking roller journaled on each of said roller bars proximate to the rear end thereof and coasting with the adjacent roller support channel, a pivot roller journaled on each roller bar in coacting relation to the support channel portion of the adjacent roller support channel, each pivot roller being located rearward of the center of gravity of the mattress frame and forward of the adjacent locking roller, a back rest extending upwardly from the rear side of said support frame, a mattress supported on said mattress frame for movement therewith between said extended sleeping position and said retracted seating position in which one longitudinal edge of the mattress extends under said back rest, said mattress frame being supported in said sleeping position by said pivot rollers and said locking rollers in said support channel portions, and said roller support channels being shaped and dimensioned so that the spacing of the rear ends of the support channel portions of the respective channels from the lock rise portions of the channels is less than the spacing of said pivot rollers from the adjacent locking rollers whereby said mattress frame when located in said seating positions is supported by said pivot rollers in said horizontal support channel portions of said respective roller channels and is releasably held against forward movement by engagement of said locking rollers with said lock rise portions of said chan nels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,365 Deimel Aug. 13, 1907 1,056,166 Gillespie Mar. 18, 1913 1,783,530 Bebry Dec. 2, 1930 2,468,990 Lundstrom May 3, 1949 2,642,584 Petersen et al. a- June 23, 1953 2,943,333 Blocker et al. July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,110,230 France Oct. 21, 1954 1,137,973 France Dec. 3, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,027,570 April 3, 1962 Ewald A. Kamp It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 35, for "through" read though column 6, line 4, for "edges" read edge line 54 for "matter" read mattress line 72, for "end" read ends column 7, line 3, and column 8, line 18, for "rollers", each occurrence, read roller line 39, for

pos1t10ns" read position Signed and sealed this 7th day of August 1962.

DAVID L. LADD ERNEST W. SWIDEH Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

